One person has died following an E. coli outbreak linked to cheese products that were removed from shelves on Christmas Eve.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said there have been 30 confirmed cases of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (Stec) in people aged seven to 81 in England and Scotland since the end of July.
The agency added that one person from Scotland with the infection has now died.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) announced a precautionary recall of four Mrs Kirkham’s Lancashire Cheese products on December 24 due to possible E. coli contamination and added a fifth product on December 27.
UKHSA said its investigation into the common links between these cases, including links to the recalled cheeses, was ongoing.
It said: “There is one death associated with this outbreak.
“Epidemiological and food chain studies have shown a link between some of the identified cases and a number of unpasteurized cheeses produced by the company in England.”
UKHSA, FSA, Public Health Scotland and Food Standards Scotland are working with other partner agencies to investigate the outbreak.
The recalled cheeses are: Mrs. Kirkham’s Mild and Creamy Lancashire, Mrs. Kirkham’s Lancashire Lekker, Mrs. Kirkham’s Mature Lancashire, Mrs. Kirkham’s Smoked Lancashire and Waitrose and Partners Farmhouse Kirkham’s Lancashire No. 1 Cheese.
Authorities said the products may be contaminated with Stec.
Symptoms caused by Stec organisms include severe diarrhea (including bloody ones), abdominal pain, and sometimes hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious condition that can lead to kidney failure and be fatal.
Tina Potter, incident manager at the FSA, said: “We know this recalled product may be popular over the festive period, particularly as it was sold as part of a Christmas gift basket. “We therefore urge consumers to check. regardless of whether you purchased this product or received it as a gift.
“Due to the E. coli O145 outbreak, we urge all consumers to follow the recommendations in the product recall notice, which identifies all products that may pose a risk.”
Source: I News
I’m Raymond Molina, a professional writer and journalist with over 5 years of experience in the media industry. I currently work for 24 News Reporters, where I write for the health section of their news website. In my role, I am responsible for researching and writing stories on current health trends and issues. My articles are often seen as thought-provoking pieces that provide valuable insight into the state of society’s wellbeing.